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European Commission approves ensitrelvir for COVID-19 post-exposure prophylaxis

The European Commission has approved ensitrelvir (Zokovea) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against COVID-19. This marks the first oral antiviral therapy authorized in the EU specifically for PEP, intended for use by adults and adolescents aged 12 and older following contact with infected individuals.

The decision follows the results of the global Phase 3 Scorpio-Pep study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving over 2,300 participants. In the primary analysis population, where treatment began within 72 hours of a household contact developing symptoms, ensitrelvir reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 67% through day 10 compared to the placebo group.

Shionogi & Co. Ltd noted that this medication provides a new option for health emergency preparedness alongside vaccines and diagnostics. Infectious disease expert Matteo Bassetti highlighted that the approval represents a significant shift in the use of oral antivirals, moving from treating confirmed infections to providing timely intervention after known exposure to prevent symptomatic illness.

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Ensitrelvir · European Commission · Matteo Bassetti · Shionogi & Co · Shionogi & Co. Ltd · Zokovea

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